Subject-Verb Agreement: Basic Rules with Simple Examples

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why we say “The cat runs” but “The cats run“? Well, you’re about to discover one of the most important secrets in English grammar! Subject-verb agreement is like teaching words to dance together perfectly. In fact, you use this rule every single day without even thinking about it!

Whether you’re texting a friend, writing a school essay, or telling a story, subject-verb agreement helps your sentences sound natural and correct. Moreover, mastering this skill will make you sound more confident and professional in everything you write or say. Let’s dive into this exciting grammar adventure together!

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject (who or what the sentence is about) and the verb (the action word) must match each other like best friends wearing matching outfits!

Here are three simple ways to understand it:

The Matching Game: Think of it as a matching game where singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs.
The Dance Partners: Imagine subjects and verbs as dance partners who must move in sync. One subject = one style of verb. Many subjects = different style of verb.
The Team Rule: Just like a soccer team needs the right number of players, your sentence needs the subject and verb to agree on whether they’re talking about one thing or many things.

A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Now, let’s explore this concept more deeply. First of all, every complete sentence has two main parts:

Step 1: Find the Subject

The subject is the star of your sentence, it’s who or what you’re talking about. For example:

The dog barks loudly.
My friends love pizza.

Step 2: Identify if the Subject is Singular or Plural

Singular = one person, place, thing, or idea (dog, friend, book)
Plural = more than one (dogs, friends, books)

Step 3: Choose the Correct Verb Form

Subsequently, you need to match your verb to your subject:

Singular subjects use verbs that often end in -s or -es
Plural subjects use verbs without the -s ending

Step 4: Check Your Agreement

Finally, read your sentence aloud. Does it sound right? Your ears are great grammar detectors!

Examples Table: See the Magic in Action!

Subject Type	Singular Example	Plural Example
People	The teacher explains well.	The teachers explain well.
Animals	A bird sings beautifully.	Birds sing beautifully.
Things	The computer works fast.	The computers work fast.
Food	Pizza tastes delicious.	Pizzas taste delicious.
Sports	Basketball is fun.	Sports are fun.
With “I”	I love ice cream.	We love ice cream.
With “You”	You play well.	You all play well.
With “He/She/It”	She dances gracefully.	They dance gracefully.
Time Words	One hour passes quickly.	Two hours pass quickly.
School Subjects	Math requires practice.	All subjects require practice.
Weather	The sun shines brightly.	The stars shine brightly.
Family	My sister reads daily.	My sisters read daily.
Hobbies	Drawing relaxes me.	Hobbies relax me.
Transportation	The bus arrives at 8.	The buses arrive at 8.
Feelings	Happiness makes life better.	Good feelings make life better.
Colors	Blue looks nice.	Bright colors look nice.
Music	The song sounds great.	The songs sound great.
Books	This book tells a story.	These books tell stories.
Games	Chess challenges the mind.	Board games challenge the mind.
Nature	The tree grows tall.	The trees grow tall.

Rules and Patterns: Your Grammar Toolkit

Basic Rules to Remember:

1 Rule: Singular subjects take singular verbs (usually add -s or -es)

Pattern: He/She/It + verb-s/es
Example: She walks to school.

2 Rule: Plural subjects take plural verbs (no -s ending)

Pattern: They/We + base verb
Example: They walk to school.

3 Rule: “I” and “You” always take plural verb forms

Pattern: I/You + base verb
Example: I eat breakfast. You eat lunch.

4 Rule: Words like “everyone,” “somebody,” “each” are singular

Pattern: Everyone/Somebody + verb-s/es
Example: Everyone loves music.

5 Rule: When subjects are connected by “and,” use plural verbs

Pattern: Subject + and + Subject + plural verb
Example: Tom and Jerry are friends.

Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters in Real Life

Understanding subject-verb agreement is incredibly important! Here’s why:

Furthermore, using correct subject-verb agreement:

Makes you sound educated and professional
Helps you score better on tests and essays
Improves your job applications and emails
Makes your stories and messages clearer
Prevents embarrassing mistakes in public speaking

Additionally, people judge our intelligence based on how we speak and write. Therefore, mastering this skill opens doors to better opportunities in school, work, and life!

Practice Exercises: Time to Test Your Skills!

A. Fill in the Blanks:

The cat _____ (sleep/sleeps) on the sofa.
My friends _____ (enjoy/enjoys) playing games.
The flower _____ (bloom/blooms) in spring.
Children _____ (love/loves) ice cream.
The teacher _____ (explain/explains) clearly.
Birds _____ (fly/flies) south in winter.
She _____ (dance/dances) beautifully.
The boys _____ (run/runs) fast.

B. Choose the Correct Word:

Everyone (is/are) happy today.
The books (was/were) on the table.
My family (watch/watches) TV together.
There (is/are) cookies in the jar.
Mathematics (is/are) my favorite subject.
The scissors (is/are) sharp.

C. Make Your Own Sentences:

Write a sentence using “The dog” as the subject.
Write a sentence using “My parents” as the subject.
Write a sentence using “Everyone” as the subject.
Write a sentence using “The children” as the subject.
Write a sentence using “It” as the subject.
Write a sentence using “Tom and Sara” as the subject.

Answer Key

•sleeps
•enjoy
•blooms
•love
•explains
•fly
•dances
•run
•is
•were
•watches
•are
•is
•are
•(Sample) The dog barks at strangers.
•(Sample) My parents work hard every day.
•(Sample) Everyone needs water to survive.
•(Sample) The children play in the park.
•(Sample) It rains often in April.
•(Sample) Tom and Sara are best friends.

Mini Quiz: Test Your Understanding!

True or False: “The boys plays football” is correct.
Multiple Choice: She _____ to school every day. a) walk b) walks c) walking
True or False: “I” always takes a plural verb form.
Multiple Choice: The flowers _____ beautiful. a) looks b) look c) looking
True or False: “Everyone are happy” is correct.
Multiple Choice: There _____ a problem with my computer. a) is b) are c) were
True or False: Collective nouns like “team” take singular verbs.
Multiple Choice: My friends and I _____ pizza. a) loves b) love c) loving
True or False: “You” takes the same verb form whether singular or plural.
Multiple Choice: Each student _____ a textbook. a) need b) needs c) needing

Quiz Answers: 1-False, 2-b, 3-True, 4-b, 5-False, 6-a, 7-True, 8-b, 9-True, 10-b

Summary: What We’ve Learned Today

In conclusion, we’ve discovered that subject-verb agreement is all about making sure our subjects and verbs match perfectly! Remember:

Singular subjects need singular verbs (usually with -s)
Plural subjects need plural verbs (no -s)
Special subjects like “I,” “you,” and “everyone” have their own rules
This skill helps us communicate clearly and professionally

Most importantly, with practice, subject-verb agreement becomes automatic. Therefore, keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a subject-verb agreement champion!